Web 2.0 AND Automobile
- A Self-Service Rental Car
Zipcar, the urban car-sharing company that now operates in eight U.S. cities, has brought a Webby mindset -- automation, transparency, community -- to the rubber-meets-road business of car rental.
Zipcar removes human operators from the rental process entirely. Customers sign up online, then reserve cars either through Zipcar's Web site or by calling an automated phone system that recognizes their cell-phone caller ID. The cars are parked in local lots and garages, unattended. Each car has a card reader mounted behind its windshield. If a customer has a reservation for that car during that time slot, the vehicle unlocks when she waves her "Zipcard" at it. The keys are inside.
2006-05-05
